Windmill toy



Feb. 19, 1952 R. L. WALRATH WINDMILL TOY 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Aug. 4, 1949 n INVENTOR. RHYMOND I .WQLRQTH (f Filed Aug. 41949- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. RHYIVIOND L, VVQLRGTH A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE WINDMILL TOY Raymond L. Walrath, Laurelton, N. Y.

Application August 4, 1949, Serial No. 108,507

Claims.

This invention relates to windmills and the like for mounting on lawns and in other places.

One object of the invention is a novel and improved windmill of the general type embodying a wind driven propeller or motor imparting animated movements to suitable objects or gures.

Another object of the invention is a windmill of the character indicated which is'characterized by marked efficiency in the transmission of power from the motor to the animated objects or figures.

A further object of the invention is a windmill of the above indicated character which is further characterized by its simplicity in construction and operation and by the economy with which it may be manufactured and assembled.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through portions of the embodiments shown in Fig. 1 illustrating the mounting of the propeller and the animated object or objects and the transmission of power from the propeller to the objects;

Figs. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are sectional views along the lines 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through another embodiment; and

iFig. 4A is a sectional view along the line 4a of F g. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have illustrated my invention as embodying a simulated pond which has the animated objects or figures as ducks swimming in this pond. The frame I of the windmill is of elongated form having a vertical support member 2 adjacent one end of the frame, the latter being provided with an elongated cylindrcal recess 2 on its lower end for the reception of a pin 3 carried by a supporting post 4 about which pin 3 the windmill can swivel through 360 responsively to the changing aircurrents. The frame member comprises a pair of side members 5, these members extending throughout the length of the elongated 'horizontal portion of the frame and between the outer ends of these side frame members is disposed a block 5, the latter having a slot l formed centrally thereof on the upper side for the reception of a substantially vertical member 8 simulating the body of a tree and having a top `9, rI'he` tree 8,8

is formed from a fiat member as, for example, of wood and the top 9 may be colored green to simulate the tree tops in the summer season while the body 8 of the tree may be colored with a contrasting color as, for example, brown to indicate the tree body or trunk. The member 8, 9 being thus mounted in the plane of the lengths of the main frame of the windmill functions as a wind guide to cause the windmill to respond to changes in direction of the air currents with the frame assuming positions parallel to the direction of the air currents.

The support member 2 is suitably fastened between the side frame members 5 adiacent the ends of the frame opposite from the tree B, 9, this frame having a centrally disposed slot I0 for the purposes hereinafter described, the slot being disposed parallel with the length of the main frame I. The mill is indicated at I I and is fastened to and carried by the side frame members 5 in any suitable manner as, for example, by being mounted on the upper edge thereof and having its sides extending down below the unner edges of the frame members 5 as .indicated at I2. These downwardly extending. Walls I2 of the mill form a convenient means for fastening the mill to the frame. The wind driven propeller or motor is designated by the numeral I3. i

The animated objects or figures are indicated at I5 and upon the rotation of the propeller or motor I3 these ducks are caused to move about as if swimming in a pond disposed between the mill II and the tree 8, S. The animated objects or figures I5 are carried by a large disc I6, this disc being horizontally disposed and mounted for rotation within the centrally recessed portions of the side frame members 5. In the particular ernbodiment shown the recesses formed within the side frame members 5 on the central upper edges thereof are formed by right angle cuts I'I whereby the centr-al portions of the side frame members 5 may be removed to form recesses having horizontal edges I8. In the particular embodiment shown the rotatable disc I6 is mounted for rotation in a block 20 disposed between the side frame members 5, the upper edge'of the block 20 being flush with the bottom I8 of the recesses formed in the frame members. This block 20 may be fastenedto the side frame members 5 in any suitable manner.

The disc I6 may be mounted for rotation on the frame in any suitable manner but I have found particularly suitable a spool-like lead bearing 2| in which bearing a vertical shaft 22 is journaled, v

this Shaft 22 being fastened at its upper end in any suitable manner to the disc I6 as, for example, being provided with a pressed fit in a central opening or recess formed in the disc I6. The disc. I 6 may rest directly upon the upper flange of the spool-like bearing 2| but one or more washers 23 may be disposed between the under side of the disc I6 and the spool bearing 2|. A similar washer 23 may be provided below between the lower spool ange and the cotter pin or collar on shaft 22. Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the disc I6 in its operative position and in the particular embodiment shown I have-provided several turns of a coiled wire having one end fastened through the lower end of the shaft 22, this wire being designated by the numeral 24, which functions as a cotter pin.

The bearing 2| may, as indicated, be of lead or a lead composition or it may be of any other suitable bearing material. I have found particularly suitable a lead composition which may be readily poured into the opening formed in the block 20 to form the spool-like bearing. This formation of the bearing may be effected by the use of any suitable molding device as, for example, a pair of molding plates, one plate disposed on the top of the block 20 and the other disposed on the bottom having molding chambers corresponding to the spool flanges 2| with the molding elements or one of them carrying a centrally disposed rod of substantially the same diameter as the shaft 22 to form the opening for the reception of the shaft 22. By forming the bearing 2| of a lead material the bearing retains its permanent shape and dimensions notwithstanding the effect of the weather conditions upon the wooden block 20, the bearing being substantially insensitive to changes in moisture, temperature, etc. so that resistance to rotation of the disc I6 carrying the animated objects I is permanently maintained ataminimum.

The propeller I3l may be of any suitable material but preferably of wood. Power is transmitted from the propeller I3 to the disc I6 to cause the rotation of the latter through a shaft 26 which carries a drive roller 21 engaging the underside of the disc I6 at a point adjacent the periphery I6'. The propeller I3 may be mounted upon the shaft 26 in any suitable manner and in the particular` embodiment shown I have provided the outer end of the shaft 26 with a screw thread 26' and the hub I3 of the propeller is provided with a registering opening for mounting on the screw threaded end 26. The propeller may be adjustably clamped in position by a pair of clamping nuts 28 screw-threadedly attached to the screw threaded end 26. The shaft 26 is journaled in a block 30 which is fastened in position between the ends of the frame members 5, this blockv beingpreferably flush with the end edges of the side frame members. The shaft is journaled in the block 30 for pivotal movement about the plane defined by the line 2b and in the particular embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is mounted for universal pivoting movements about the plane defined by the lines 2b-2c at right angles to the shaft 26. The sectional views 2A, 2B and 2C indicate the interior surfaces of the bearing opening formed in the block 30. This bearing opening may be formed directly in the block 3|)A but preferably it is formed in a separate bearing member 3| formed of any suitable bearing material as, for example, lead or lead composition. This bearing unit 3| may be molded in situ or it may be molded and then inserted inI the opening provided therefor in the block 30, the latter being for example of wood. The block carrying the shaft 26 and the propeller I3 is thus disposed closely adjacent the propeller. The shaft passes through the central slot I0 formed in the upper end of the vertical support 2, the slot facilitating the mounting and assembling of the block 30 with the shaft 26 in operative position. The shaft may be adjusted longitudinally of the block 30 in any suitable manner and a pair of adjusting and clamping nuts 32 is disposed adjacent the block 30 to take up the thrust of the air motor I3. The shaft and propeller unit are retained in adjusted position in the particular embodiment shown by a cylindrical roller 33 which may make a press iit with the shaft or a fit tight enough to retain it in the position just to the left of the vertical support 2.

With the construction and arrangement shown the driving roller 21 is yieldingly held in its uppermost position to engage the under surface of the disc I6 by the weight or mass of the propeller I3, the propeller having a weight or mass substantially greater than the total weight or mass of the inner portion of the shaft 26, the driving roller 21 and the retaining member 33. The driving roller 21 is preferably of wood or other suitable material to provide a friction drive on the under surface near the periphery thereof. Said roller 21 is provided with a curved peripheral surface 35 so as to present to the under surface of the disc I6 a smooth driving surface and the periphi ery 35 in all relative positions of adjustment and mounting of the shaft 26 with respect to the disc I6 and the block 30. If for instance the mounting is such that the shaft 26 is parallel with that portion of the undersurface of the disc I6 with which the roller engages then the driving contact between the curved surface 35 of the roller and the disc I6 would be in line with the diameter m-m of the roller 21 which is substantially at right angles to the shaft 26. On the other hand if the shaft 26 is not parallel to the driven undersurface of the disc I6 the driving contact between the periphery 35 of the roller and the disc I6 would be to one side or the other of the line m-m depending upon the relative inclinations. These other positions of the roller are roughly indicated by the lines or diameters n-n and o'- o. Also if the under driving surface of the disc I6 should not be wholly in exactly the same plane or the disc I6 should not be mounted so as td have its driving surface exactly horizontal or if' both of these conditions should exist, iii each revolution of the disc I6 the actual driving' contact between the roller and the driven undersurface of the disc' I6 will shift longitudinally of the direction of the shaft 26. However, any such inaccuracy in construction of the disc I6 or any inaccuracy in the mounting of the disc I6 relatively to the shaft 26 will not appreciably lower the efficiency of the drive due to the particular structure of the driving roller 21 and the mounting of the shaft 26 and the propeller I3. I have found that with this construction a disc I6 of roughly of an inch thickness and '1 inches indiameter is easily rotated responsively to air cur-- rents so small as to ordinarily be ineffective to drive many of the conventional windmills withv which I am familiar. This highly advantageous and useful result is obtained by a wooden propeller I3 having four blades I4, each being approximately 5 inches long and approximately two and one-half inches in width and occupying any suitablel angular position to the direction of rotation and with the outermost end of the blade being approximately six and threequarters inches from the central axis of rotation. This is accomplished with a propeller made of wood but they may be made of another suitable material such as Masonite. Duron or metal.

In the particular embodiment shown the block is provided with a slot 36 into which projects j the end 31 of the shaft 26, the slot 36 being vertical and forming a guide for this end of the shaft. The slot, however, is appreciably wider than the diameter of the shaft 26 so that the latter has free play therein. This clearance compensates for swelling by rain, when made of wood or other material sensitive to moisture and weather conditions and also simplifies assembly.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the shaft 26 is pivotally mounted on a block which like block 30 above described is fastened between the two side frame members 5. It is providedunderneath with a vertical slot for the reception of the shaft 26 and the slotted part is provided with a transverse pin 4I carried by the two branches of the block formed by the slot 40. The shaft 26 rests upon this pin 4I and the clearance between the shaft and the bottom surface 40' of the slot is sufficient to permit the required pivotal adjustments of the shaft 26 in vertical planes and the slot itself is of greater width than the diameter of the shaft, thereby permitting adjustments of the shaft 26 in horizontal planes as above indicated. A universal adjustment is thus provided. Like the clearance between the bottom III' of the slot I0 and the shaft 26 in Fig. 2, the clearance in Fig. 3 between this bottom and the shaft 26 is sufiicient to permit free adjusting support 2 which retains the shaft in the adjusted position.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4 the shaft 26 and the propeller unit I3 are carried by a pivoting element 45, the latter having an opening 46 therethrough to accommodate the shaft 26, the opening 46 being larger than the shaft 26 to permit slight adjusting movements of the shaft in all directions with respect to the pivoting element and compensation for wood swelling or mis-alignment. The shaft 26 is adjustably positioned with respectto the pivoting element 45 by means of the adjusting and locking screws 32 and the washer 42. The collar 41 is fastened to the shaft on the other side of the pivoting element 45 to retain the shaft in position. In the particular embodiment shown the pivoting element consists of a roller of any suitable material as, for example, wood, which is pivotally fasftened at its ends to the side frame members 5 by means of pins 48. By this means the shaft 26 may pivot freely in the vertical plane through limited movements by reason of the pivoting movements of the pivoting element 45, and it has additional free play movements in all directions through the enlarged transverse opening 46 formed therein.

The animated objects and figures such, for example, as the ducks I5, are painted in colors contrasting with the color of the disc I6 as, for example, the ducks being predominantly white and the disc I6 being sea blue. When the disc begins to rotate or is rotating the movement of the-ducks I5 is what catches the eye of the observer since at a distance the movement of the disc I6 is barely discernible. By painting a part of the frame I the same color as the disc I6, namely that part above the line 50, the simulation of a pond is heightened, giving one the impression that the ducks are swimming around in the pond. The rest of the frame I vmay be colored green, for example, while the`mil1 II may be suitably colored, 'preferably with colors contrasting with the colorof the disc I6. I have pointed out above the high eiiiciency of the wind power transmission from the propeller I3 to the disc I6, the rotation of the disc I6 being produced by extremely smallair currents. All of this is accomplished with the simple construction and assembly described.

Iclaim: j y f v 1. In a windmilldevice of the character set forth, a frame member, a rotary disc mounted for rotation in a horizontal plane, an air motor mounted on the frame for rotating said disc, a shaft journaled in said frame and carrying said air motor at its outer end, said shaft being journaled on the frame for rotary movements and also for pivotal movements ina vertical plane -about a point intermediate its ends and a driving member carried by the end of the shaft on the opposite side of said point from the air motor and engaging the under surface 0f the disc at a point adjacent the periphery of the disc.

2. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the point of pivotal movement is in a hollow bearing member through which the shaft extends with the bearing member having a reduced diameter at a point intermediate its ends and gradually increasing diameters from that diameter in both directions.

3. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the shaft rests upon a pin carried by the frame member which is transversely disposed with respect to the shaft. the pin functioning as a pivotal point.

4. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein a transverse member is pivotally mounted in the frame and is provided with an opening therethrough for accommodating the shaft, the transverse member functioning as the pivoting member for the shaft.

5. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the driving member disposed on the inner end of the shaft and engaging the under surface of the disc is a roller having a curved outer peripheral surface for making a smooth driving engagement with the under surface of the disc at all points in the rotation thereof.

6. In a device of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the driving member disposed on the inner end of the shaft and engaging the under surface of the disc is a roller having a curved outer peripheral surface for making a smooth driving engagement with the under surface of the disc at all points in the rotation thereof, and said shaft is pivotally mounted for universal movement with the mass of the motor yieldingly holding the driving roller firmly in engagement with the under side of the disc notwithstanding the irregularities on the surface of the disc or the inaccurate mounting of the same.

7. In a windmill device of the character set forth, an elongated frame member, a bearing block carried by said frame member in which a disc is journaled for rotation in a horizontal plane, said block having a vertical guide slot therein on one side of the axis of rotation of said 7 disc', a support" fdr sai'd frame having a vertical slot at its. upper end: in. alinement with the ver -ticaLguide-slot, a drive shaft for said disc passing through said vertical. slot formed in. the support member and having.' one end projecting into said vertical guide slot and carrying adjacent said vertical guide'slot a driving roller whose peripheral edge has a curvature approximating that of the zone of asphere, means for mounting said shaft for both rotary movements and pivotal movements in a vertical' plane and an air motor y carried by the frame at the swivelled end, a second block carried between said frame members at a point intermediate their ends, a disc journaled. in said second block for rotation in a horizontal plane, animated objects simulating ducks mounted on said disc, said disc and objects being of contrasting color with a portion of the frame underneath the disc being of the same color' as the discr an air motor mounted adjacent 8i th'ernillv house-for rotation about an axis. extending' substantially longitudinally of the frame, and a shaft driven by said air motor and carrying a friction roller maintained in engagement with the under surface of the disc at a point near the periphery thereof, said shaft being pivotally mounted for movements in vertical planes.

9. In a device of the character set forth in claim 8 wherein the vertical movements of said shaft in vertical planes are responsive to the mass of the airl motor.

10. In a device of the character set forth in claim 8 wherein said shaft is mounted for both rotary movements and universal movements about a point near the air motor.

RAYMOND L. WALRA'I'I-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file o'f this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,166,247 Pachur Dec. 28, 1915 1,300,674 Turner Apr. 15, 1919 1,327,360 Smigielski Jan. 6, 1920 1,410,188 Jensen. Mar. 21, 1922 1,748,421 Leach Feb. 25, 1930 1,853,204 Eslinger Apr. 12, 1932 `1,939,962 Eslinger Dec. 19, 1933 

